Prevalence and Correlates of Adolescent Cigarette Smoking in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria)

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2013

Abstract

While our knowledge on the prevalence and associated factors of cigarette smoking continues to grow, there are limited data from the conflict regions of the Middle East. We therefore conducting a secondary analysis of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (2005) from the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) to assess the prevalence and social correlates of smoking. Methods: Data from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) 2005 were used to determine current cigarette smoking prevalence and associated factors, attitudes, and exposure to, tobacco advertisements among adolescents. Current cigarette smoking was defined as having smoked even a single puff within the last 30 days preceding the survey. Data were analyzed using SUDAAN software 9.0. Results: Of the 2,182 respondents, 28.7% males and 9.6% females reported being current smokers (p <0.01). Having smoking friends was strongly associated with smoking after controlling for age, gender, parental smoking status, and perception of risks of smoking (OR=9.79; 95% CI [6.75, 14.22] for most friends and OR=4.68; 95% CI [3.36, 6.52] for some friends). Male gender and having one or both smoking parents were associated with smoking (OR=2.29; 95% CI [1.70, 3.09] and OR=1.85; 95% CI [1.41, 2.42] respectively). Conclusions: We report that overall about 1 in 5 school-going adolescents in the West Bank were current cigarette smokers in 2005. Factors associated with smoking were having parents or peer who was smoker and feelings that smoking was harmful was protective. Many adolescents are exposed to pro-tobacco advertisements. In general, males who smoked were perceived positively than females.

Journal Title

International Journal of Child and Adolescent Health

Volume

5

Issue

1

First Department

Public Health, Nutrition and Wellness

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